THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN ANTHROPONYMIC PROPERTIES AND THEIR REFERENTIAL MEANINGS

Abstract

This article analyzes the causes and mechanisms of the mismatch between anthroponyms and their real-life referents in English and Uzbek. Drawing on major theories of reference, it demonstrates how names undergo semantic broadening, loss of transparency, and cultural reinterpretation under the influence of historical, cultural, and intertextual factors. Examples show that English anthroponyms often develop metaphorical generalization (“Einstein,” “Don Juan”), while Uzbek names reflect folkloric and mythopoetic layers (“Tohir,” “Otabek,” “Oybarchin”). The study argues that personal names function not only as identifiers but also as carriers of cultural memory and collective imagery.